Had to hospitalize a young woman this week for suicidality.  She was a recently returned missionary too.  Was trying to give her every reason I could think of to reconsider her decision, but she was determined.  Then I had the thought to suggest that our common enemy might be trying to influence her.  I checked with Heavenly Father before saying anything and since I didn’t feel constrained, I went ahead.  I asked her if there was any reason Lucifer would like to see her dead?  She became even more withdrawn so I started second guessing myself & didn’t sleep well.  Begged God to help me be more prudent…. 

We’ve been studying the NT and the next chapter in Mark happened to be about a poor man who lived in a cave and cut himself with stones because he was possessed by a Legion of evil spirits.  As you know, Jesus cast the spirits into ~2000 swine who then stampeded off a cliff into the sea.  Another account of an evil spirit cast a lad into fire & water, trying to destroy him.  I was thankful for the scriptures and the timely validation that evil spirits are not pro-life.  Perhaps it was prudent afterall to suggest a priesthood blessing to my patient. 

Heavenly Father is so merciful.  I beg him every day that other people will feel His love in spite of my weakness.  It was parent weekend at the girl’s residential facility.  We met with 15 sets of anxious parents which is surely a recipe for conflict and stress.  I prayed specifically that God would rid my heart of any resentment toward a Jewish physician and his wife from NY who had on several occasions been verbally abusive to me on the phone.  By some miracle, they went from downcast eyes to laughter and gratitude.  And I was completely free of any animosity.  The nurse that attends me said this is the third parent weekend in a row that no parent has been disgruntled or disruptive.  She said she’s never seen it before.  I told her it paid to fast and pray. 

We’ve been thinking about renovating our home i.e. enlarging the kitchen and adding a bedroom and large meeting room on the main floor.  It would be easier than moving.  Hope it ensures an active and gracious old age.

We are trying to revamp how we set goals.   Both Ker and I are not very good with follow-up so we’re going to use dinner prep time to discuss how we did for the day.  Hope we can be successful following up on our followup!

YSA Ward was uplifting as usual.  All three young adults talked on goal-setting.  One said, “you don’t achieve 100% of the goals you never set”.  Another said, “hope is when a realistic dream comes together with a goal.”  She also said the reason we serve willingly is so the recipient can feel of God’s love (unwillingness dams the transfer).  The special number was a male/female piano duet of “Come Thou Fount.”  I wept it was so beautiful.  The third speaker quoted from Preach My Gospel p121 on diligence:  steady, consistent, earnest, and energetic effort in doing the Lord’s work.  I could use some work on the consistent part.  Get so distracted at times. 

Kerry gave the temple prep lesson today.  He did such a good job using scriptures to teach about the blessings of the temple.  One recently returned missionary said he actually learned something!   It’s interesting how we give the same lesson over and over and it rises to fit each person’s needs.  One girl stayed after because being sexually assaulted  is interfering with her desire to attend the temple again.  She doesn’t feel worthy even though it wasn’t her fault.  I was able to direct her to a number of resources.  

Love you Elder Snell.